I am the registered owner of a freehold residence in Highgate but nevertheless invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Highgate and has limited impact for conveyancing in Highgate but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 is to be extinguished.

We are purchasing a apartment in Highgate. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? At some point we have to put funds into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our monies?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

I am helping my aunt sell her house in Highgate. Will the solicitor order an EPC or it is for me to coordinate?

Following the abolition of Home Information Packs, energy performance certificates was left as a compulsory component of selling a house. An energy performance certificate must be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. This is not a task that law firms normally organise. Where you are using a Highgate conveyancing lawyer they might help arrange energy assessments due to their contacts with long established local assessors

Is it the case that all Highgate conveyancing solicitors on the conveyancing panel are regulated by the SRA?

As solicitors, in order to be on the conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. The majority of banks do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

I have recentlyfound out that Action Conveyancing have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Highgate for a purchase of a freehold house 12 months ago. How can I check that the property is registered correctly in the name of the previous owner?

The quickest method to check if the property is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Highgate conveyancing specialists.

How does conveyancing in Highgate differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Highgate contact us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is finished. This is because house builders in Highgate tend to purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Highgate or who has acted in the same development.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on last month in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Highgate is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Highgate are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Highgate you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Highgate may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.